September 2014

Industry Insider: Melissa Stockwell

Posted on September 25, 2014 - 12:00 pm by keith_ritter

Meet Melissa Stockwell. She’s an American hero and champion triathlete; a dog lover and expecting mother. Prepare to be both inspired and motivated as you learn about her incredible story!

Tell us your story in 140 characters or less:

On April 13, 2004 while serving in the US Army in Iraq, I lost my left leg above the knee from a roadside bomb. After a year of therapy at Walter Reed Hospital trying to find my new normal, I fell back in love with athletics. In 2008 I competed in swimming at the Beijing Paralympics. In 2009 I turned to the sport of triathlon and have since competed around the country and the world. Thanks to my custom USA themed Trek Madone, I am a 3x Paratriathlon World Champion and hope to compete in Rio in 2016. Away from athletics, I work with prosthetics to fit other amputees with artificial limbs, am a motivational speaker, and co-founded the Chicago based Dare2tri Paratriathlon Club. I am a proud American, a proud above the knee amputee and proud to live a life of sport.

(OK, that’s a pretty tough story to tell in 140 characters. We’ll give you a free pass, Melissa.)

What’s the most rewarding part about your job?

Working in the field of prosthetics, I literally get to give people their lives back. They come into my office defeated just after loosing a limb and we can provide them with a prosthetic. We get them up and enable them to do the things they love. As a speaker, I get to motivate others to follow their dreams and live life to the fullest. My jobs rock!

Favorite place you’ve ever traveled and why?

New Zealand in 2012 for Paratriathlon World Championships. It’s beauty is un-matched!

If you could only bring one unnecessary item on a trip, what would it be?

Does my dog count?

What is one thing you never fly without?

My neck pillow, plenty of Chapstick and some snacks for the ride.

Tell us about your best day on a bicycle.

Riding my new Trek Madone at World Championships in 2012. I got the bike a short week before the race and had limited time to practice on it. To ride it with its speed and effortless gear changes was amazing. Not to mention I was inspired every time I got to see the stars and stripes when I looked down. It led me to my 3^rd World Championship win and I fell even more in love with Trek that day!

Favorite hotel you’ve ever stayed in?

Anyplace with great staff, a lounge pool and a lap pool, clean rooms and a coffee shop in the lobby gets an A+ in my book!

What is the best advice you have for our readers?

Never compare yourself to someone else. Be happy with who you are and your own accomplishments. And to live each day happy, you never know when it could be your last.

Outside of your family, who inspires you the most?

Anyone who has ever overcome a disability and gone on to succeed with whatever it is they want to do.

What is your personal motto or mantra?

To be my own rockstar. To be proud of what I do and to encourage others to dream big and go for their goals.

If you want to follow Melissa and learn more about her story, follow her on Twitter @MStockwell01.

Tips from our Travel Coordinator

Posted on September 18, 2014 - 11:00 am by keith_ritter

Expert travel agent and airline aficionado Lindsay Juley is here to help you prepare for your next vacation. Follow her top seven tips and tricks to help ensure that your next vacation goes as smoothly as possible. As summer comes to a close and fall trips are in full swing, there is some serious wanderlust going on at our head office. As the travel coordinator for Trek Travel, I know first-hand that no matter how much planning goes into a vacation, you must expect the unexpected. Flights get cancelled. Rail workers strike. Immune systems rebel. In order to make your hard-earned vacation as smooth and comfortable as possible, here are some tips and tricks to make sure you are escaping stress – rather than creating it – as you head to your fall travel destinations:

1. Give yourself the ‘buffer’ zone.

Anticipate delays and extra travel time, especially when heading to a new city. Booking that extra pre-night before a trip will not only allow you to relax when you arrive to your destination, but will also give you spare time in case there is a storm or other unexpected issues that affect your arrival time. Plus, an extra night to overcome the jet lag never hurts either.

2. Always have a Plan B….and C.

You did your due diligence and pre-booked a train to get to your destination, but the rail workers decide to strike and your train is no longer running. What do you do? Knowing a back-up bus option or a shuttle service will save you time and energy in the case you have any hiccups.

3. Pump up the vitamins

Stress affects your immune system and getting ready for a trip can certainly be a stressful time as you try to wrap up loose ends at work and stay up late to pack. Make sure to eat healthy, take vitamins, and try and get as much sleep as you can leading up to your trip, as well as on the trip itself, to keep that cold from ruining your trip.

4. Pack light and smart.

When laying out the items you want to take with you, try to take basic colors and layers that you can mix and match. Bring a small amount of laundry detergent to wash cycling clothes in your hotel sink to avoid having to pack an outfit for every day. Figure out what you really need and what you can live without. Having extra outfit choices is not worth the struggle of hauling heavy baggage around cobblestone streets and up steps

5. Invest in a blow-up neck pillow.

They take up little to no space and will change your life, especially when you are counting on getting sleep on that overnight flight. Seriously. The best $20 you’ll ever spend.

6. Check your coverage.

In the unfortunate event that an emergency requires you to cancel your trip, come home early, or see a doctor abroad, check with your insurance to see if coverage extends to the country you visiting and keep emergency contact numbers on you at all times. Trek Travel also offers travel insurance in case you are not covered by your standard policy or credit card.

7. Roll with the punches.

Even if you follow all of this advice, things can still happen. Just take a deep breath and keep in mind that at the very least, it’ll make a great story to tell your friends and family when you get home.

Monthly Archives: September 2014